Police officers are using a clever new trick to catch distracted motorists on their phone.

Officers in Leeds are driving an undercover bus to patrol for traffic offences including using mobile phones, failing to stop for red lights and dangerous driving offences in general.

Police catching a driver - Credit: West Midlands Police

Police officers jump on board the double decker bus and use cameras on the top deck to catch motorists breaking the law.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that a driver was caught using his phone at the wheel just FIVE minutes into the bus going out on the roads to catch dodgy drivers.

He was handed a £200 fine and 6 points on his licence.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "Only 5 minutes into our journey and our first driver has been stopped.

Police have teamed up with a bus company in Yorkshire this month to catch dodgy drivers. Photo: West Yorkshire Police

"Mobile phone offences now receive 6 points and a £200 fine."

A similar scheme has been launched in the West Midlands with plain clothed officers taking to public transport.

Officers are equipped with video cameras peering down at passing motorists on the lookout for distracted drivers.

Information is radioed to police bikers who divert offenders to a designated site where they are given an educational input, including a hard-hitting, virtual reality video highlighting the potentially devastating consequences of using a phone while driving.

PC Mark Hodson said: “Using mobile phones while driving is proven to be as dangerous as drink driving; it can devastate lives and people need to understand this isn’t acceptable.